Admission Criteria

The Doctoral Committee is comprised of the PhD Program Director and doctoral faculty. Criteria employed in determining admission include evidence of achievement in previous academic programs, increased competency in professional performance, knowledge of critical issues associated with the applicant’s area of professional interest, and the potential for contributions to the knowledge of the profession through research, leadership, scholarly writing, and professional education.

Degree - Accredited master’s degree in social work or allied discipline

Graduate Experience - Preference is given to candidates with a minimum of two years post masters’ experience

Grade Point Average - 3.5Note: Applicants with a grade point average between 3.3 and 3.49 may be considered on an individual basis if credentials are otherwise exceptionally strong.

TranscriptOne academic transcript is required from each college/university you have attended. Scanned student copies or unofficial transcripts are NOT accepted. If you previously attended Barry University then you do NOT need to submit your Barry transcript; however, any and all other transcripts must be submitted. All official transcripts should be mailed to:

Barry UniversitySchool of Social WorkOffice of Admissions, Enrollment, and Student Services11300 NE Second AvenueMiami, FL 33161-6695

ReferencesThree letters of reference are required. It is strongly suggested that you submit recommendations from colleagues and/or supervisors who know your work and professional performance. Recommenders should comment on the following skills sets: intellectual capacity to engage in scholarly activities, skill in written communication, skill in verbal communication, achievement in previous academic programs, awareness of critical professional issues, potential for contributing to the profession, potential for providing leadership in his/her chosen field.

Official Letters of Reference letters must be submitted on organizational letter head and mailed directly to the School of Social Work Office of Admissions.

NarrativeThis narrative must be submitted with the application for admission and can be uploaded to the relevant section of the online application. Provide one double-spaced three (3) – (4) page discussion (12pt.) that addresses the following questions: 1) how your experience informs your research interests, 2) why you are applying for doctoral student at this time 3) in what way might this program experience advance your career and, 4) whether your primary career aspirations are as an advanced practitioner or as an independent researcher/academic.

Note: This is an extremely important component of your application; it should be well organized and thoughtful.

Writing Sample: An additional sample of your written work is a required admission component. You are required to provide evidence of your scholarly abilities. This requirement may be satisfied in several ways; 1) Submit a copy of a grant or program proposal authored by you that included a literature review. 2) Submit a scholarly newsletter where you are noted as the author. 3) Submit a published article with you as the author or co-author. 4) Submit a refereed (peer-reviewed) conference paper authored or co-authored by you. 5) Prepare a narrative, not to exceed 15 double-spaced pages, linking current practice/research interests to social justice issues using applicable literature.

Curriculum Vitae: Please submit your most recent curriculum vitae. Include all post-secondary schools you attended and your Grade Point Average (GPA) for each institution. Also include your employment history, publications, conference presentations, awards, grants received, professional licenses, and membership in professional organizations.

All materials must be submitted in English, and any foreign documents must be accompanied by official English translations.

We do not require GRE scores.

Application FormOnline applications preferred

Application Fee$60 non-refundable fee must be paid at the time of application.

Dates and Deadlines

Our next doctoral cohort is set to begin in the Fall 2017. The application deadline is March 1, 2017.